METHOD OF TREATMENT OF GEOTHERMAL FLUID OR FORMATION WATER STREAMS BY CONTINUOUS ELECTROCHEMICAL REMOVAL OF REDUCIBLE METAL AND/OR METALLOID IONS FROM THE PRODUCTION STREAM

摘要

A method of treatment of geothermal fluid or formation water production streams prior to their energetic utilization or release into the environment by continuous electrochemical removal of radioactive, toxic and scale-forming reducible metal and/or semimetal and/or nonmetal ions from the production stream by means of an apparatus for electrolytic deposition comprising i) one or ii) more than one reaction space, each of which comprises a pressure- and/or temperature-resistant electrochemical deposition apparatus composed of an anode space with anode and anolyte and a cathode space with cathode, wherein, in the case of two or more reaction spaces, each reaction space is connected in parallel flow to further reaction spaces of identical design that are present, comprising the steps of: a) passing the production stream at a pressure of 1 to 100 bar and/or a temperature of 10 to 200°C through the cathode space of the electrochemical deposition apparatus, b) applying a controllable electrical current, c) i) stopping the production stream when the cathode is loaded or ii) diverting the production stream, d) regenerating the reaction space through which the material flows in steps a) and b) by removing the metals and/or semimetals and/or nonmetals deposited on the cathode material thereof, wherein the anode space and cathode space are each separated from one another by an anion or cation exchange membrane or a porous separator, wherein the anolyte is an aqueous solution of inorganic and/or organic oxidizable compounds having a redox potential below that of the redox system ClVCb, such that the formation of chlorine gas is suppressed, wherein the oxidizable compounds are anodically oxidized during the deposition, wherein the anolyte is conducted within a separate circuit and is regenerated when all oxidizable compounds have been oxidized, wherein the apparatus is connected into the production stream above ground or below ground.